Rocking chair caster



A ttomey 5 many rocking chairs are Patented Dec. 1, 1931 DONALD E. NELSON, OF IRON HOUNTADT, MICHIGAN ROCKING CHAIR CASTER Application filed August as, 1929. Serial 10,389,012.

This invention relates to a roller bearing caster for use particularly in connection with rocking chairs.

It is a matter of common knowledge that cite heavy and are unhandy to move from p ace to place unless dragged across the floor. This scars and frequently ruins the floor and is quite obj ectionable.

m i The urpose oi. the invention is to provide -.simpli ed roller bearing casters which are secured to the rear end portions of the rockers in a. position to be out-of-the-way so as not to interfere with the rocking motion of the chair, but to enable the chair to be rolled from place to place by merely tilting it up on the casters and pushing it bodily.

In carrying the invention into effect, I have evolved and produced what I believe to be an unusually simple and inexpensive caster construction, which is ractically invisible, and which not only facilitates the transportation or movement of the chair in the room but acts as a safety measure to prevent one from rocking over backwards because of its peculiar rolling action, which takes place in the event that such accidental turning over of the chair would otherwise be inevitable.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a. side view of a rocking chair, equipped with the improved casters.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in section and elevation showing the caster embedded in the rocker.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the improved caster.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fi re 3.

. n the drawings, the numeral 1 desi ates generally the body portion of the or inary rocking chair, and Qindicates the usual curvate rockers. In accordance with the invention, the rear end portion 3 of each rocker is provided near its extremity. and on its bottom, with a caster generally designated by the reference character 4. This caster is preferably of a type to include a socket 5 which is embedded in the rocker, and which carries a roller ball 6, the ball being so arranged as to project a suflicient distance bedown into contact vand rearrangement .of 't e low the bottom of the rocker to accomplish the desired result.

It is to be noted that the socket construction in reality includes a on -like portion and a curvate marginal or mout rim Seated in the cup-like ortion is a allrace rtion.

7 provided with a multiplicity of anti-friction balls 8. Consequently the main roller ball 6 cooperates with the smaller balls 8 in providing a free operating caster.

A rocking chair equi ped with casters of this ty e may be read1 y and ea'sily rolled from p ace to lace without scarring or injur'ing the sur ace of floors. Moreover, it minimizes labor in this respect and makes it possible for the housewi e to shift the rocking chair from place to place without physical effort.

The casters are so located as to permit the chair to be easilybalanced and "handled in that they are close to the rear ends of the rockers and on the bottom thereof at the proper place, to secure appropriate leverage by merel tilting the chanup on the rockers and resting the casters.

Moreover as before indicated, if the chair happens to be occupied by a child or one who is inclined to rock in a hep-hazard manner, it will be difficult to turn the chair over by tilting backwards. turning over, when the rollers are brought with the floor, the chair will shift or roll along the floor instead of turning backward. Thus the casters are a combined safety and handling means.

The simplicity of the device seems to make a more lengthy description unnecessary. It is thou ht that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will doubtless obtain. a clear understanding of the construction and advantages and features by considering the description in conjunction with the drawings.

Minor changes in sha. e size,

details, coming within the field of invention claimed, may be resorted to in actual practice if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:--

the modern polished,

Instead of the chair materials,-

bulk of the weight on the 7 In a rocking chair including its body,

rockers and legs connecting the body with the rockers, each rocker having a recess therein opening out through the unde edge thereof and located between the rear leg and the rear end of the rocker and a. ball caster located in said recess with the ball slightly projecting from the recess.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DONALD NELSON. 

